Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 1 i WellBeing Being

Tibetan Buddhist Pema Chödrön famously said, “You are the sky. Everything else — it’s just the weather.” The sky, just like your presence, is always there but that doesn’t mean it’s always clear; storms can strike at any point. Your internal storms can feel just as intense as thunder, lightning or hail but the sky (your presence) is always above (or underneath) the storm, patiently waiting to reconnect with you. Remember that you are the sky and your state of presence is a constant among the transient nature of weather.…

Look out for brands using sustainable packaging such as 100 per cent post-consumer plastic, which helps to divert plastic products from landfill. If you’re trying to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, making a conscious effort to reduce waste from your beauty routine can have a significant impact. But one look at all of those plastic bottles lining up along the edge of your shower might be enough to convince you that it’s an impossible feat. Well, excusing the plastic bottles you’ve already purchased, there are plenty of ways to reduce waste that don’t require you to ditch your favourite beauty rituals. From face mask alternatives to the latest uber-cool zero-waste beauty brands, here are five easy steps to get you started. 01 Stop using makeup-removal wipes There’s no denying…

Self-care (often used synonymously with self-love) has become a buzzword within the yoga community in recent years. Yogis are rushing off for weekly spa sessions in an attempt to connect more deeply with the self and come out a more enlightened being. We put on organic facemasks, take long baths, douse ourselves in coconut oil and repeat affirmations in the mirror, then wonder why we don’t feel fulfilled. It’s not that I’m not a fan of a little indulgence, but where does this connection come from and what does it have to do with yoga? Isn’t yoga supposed to be about letting go of the self and seeing that there is no separation; we are all one? Well, kind of. There are many classical philosophies that embrace the idea of…

It’s a late summer’s night and the Nordic sun is gently hovering above the horizon. I’ve just immersed myself in an urban foraging and dining adventure with Norway-based Food Studio but my host, Cecilie, still has a surprise up her sleeve. “We’re going to sauna. Would you like to come?” Having no idea what’s in store, I promptly respond, “Why not?!” In transformational travel circles, this is what they describe as a “call to adventure”: that moment when you take a leap of faith and step out into the unknown. You might have a thousand nervous butterflies flying around in your tummy but, deep down, you know that you’re on the right path. An hour later, I find myself stepping out of a tiny floating sauna on Oslo’s harbour —…

I was a dedicated yoga class attendee for a long time. I was physically showing up, taking on the intention of the class that day, or from that teacher, and taking away wonderful food for thought. But there was no continuity or real reflection on my own goals, views or development of my deep desires for my life. I had the sense that yoga had such potential to change my life, but I was reliant on getting that change from the outside, from other people. The more I read, it became clear that the answers are on the inside. Purpose, intuition, healing and intelligence will ultimately come from that true inner listening — from looking inward and facing ourselves. What is sādhanā? Sādhanā is the cornerstone of a yoga experience…

Inspiration is a force to be reckoned with. It often strikes unexpectedly and, if you’re courageous enough to follow its breadcrumbs, it can take you down an extraordinary path. Like a fire ignited in your belly, feeling inspired is what gets you out of bed in the morning to chase your dreams and live out your purpose. As Roy T Bennett, author of The Light in the Heart famously said, “Believe in your heart that you’re meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic and miracles.”…

I feel most calm when … “I have just jumped out of the ocean.” The last time I felt inspired was … “Talking to my grandmother … we were talking about her earlier life.” When I need to pause, I … “Go for a walk in nature, or just be in nature — even if I just stand outside on the grass.” The last time I cried was … “Just before my period … I don’t remember exactly what it was but it was something silly — like I spilt tea.” The last time I laughed was … “When I was watching Gogglebox last night [laughs].” My favourite way to relax is … “Swimming and then lying down to meditate after swimming.” My favourite way to create space is ……

You know this state of presence by its feeling: aligned, connected and in flow. Sometimes our physical environment enables us to cultivate this sense of balance, ease and calm, which is why we intuitively turn to nature and other grounding environments to relax and reconnect with ourselves and the world. But, other times, if you adjust your internal landscape — your perspective on a situation — you can rediscover your presence, find more ease in moments of unease and surrender to the freedom of balance. Transitioning from a place of doing and into a state of being is at the core of this new magazine, Being. This morning, I journeyed down to the beach to soak my feet in the sand and wash my face with saltwater. Feeling the wind…

Our fast-paced culture can be likened to a yang way of living, while carving out space has a yin quality to it. We need to strike a balance between our yin and yang, but when you feel like you’re leaning too much into your yang, it’s important to honour your need for space. According to Buddhist monk Thích Nht Hnh, “It is only when we stop that we can encounter life.” We invite you to slow down in your body to cultivate space physically, tune into how you’re feeling to create space mentally and connect with your breath to make space energetically.…

01 Formalise eating Try eating while sitting at the table and use cutlery when practical. (I know, who wants to eat pizza with a knife and fork.) 02 When you eat, eat The next time you eat, try doing just that: eating. (Turning technology off helps.) See what you observe. Be curious about any discomfort that may arise. Pause to ask yourself throughout: I am eating, but am I tasting? 03 Engage with the five senses From start to finish, try paying attention to the different senses (smell, sight, sound, touch and taste) before and while you eat. Notice with curiosity if this changes your experience of eating. Acknowledge and gently let go of any judgements (positive, negative or neutral) that may arise. Try describing what you observe, eg “This…

Connection is a strong feeling that we, as humans, are hardwired for. We need to feel connected with ourselves, with others and with the environment around us. Imagine for a moment that you’re lying down on a patch of grass or swimming in the sea. In both of these situations, you’re connecting directly with the earth, as well as reconnecting with a deeper part of yourself. As naturalist John Muir famously suggested, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”…

• Ensure you have a space and dedicate yourself to a length of time each day. Let the time be meaningful and ensure there is something about it that is enjoyable and sacred to you. • Create your sankalpa: a positive statement written in present tense. What qualities would you like to bring into fruition through your Sādhanā? (If you have a habit you would like to break, think about what will be enabled in you when that habit is no longer in your life.) • Do your research on what practices may assist the quality of the sankalpa you want to bring to each day. There may be a particular asana, breath work, chant, mudra, kriya or meditation technique that is appropriate. • Know that 40 days is tough!…

Q: What do you love most about your work at Byron Yoga Centre? A: I teach yoga, I teach people to teach yoga, I take our retreat guests for philosophy sessions, I work with a fantastic team of staff and I live in Byron Bay, on-site at Byron Yoga Retreat Centre — what’s not to love about it all? I guess what I love most are the results. I love that together with the staff, guests and students, we have created a harmonious community that really holds each member. I love that on an individual level, I get to see people make positive changes; that they leave Byron Yoga Retreat Centre, or one of our non-residential courses, a better version of themselves. Q: How do you reconnect with your sense…

I’ve had a camera in my hand since I can remember, documenting my life through the lens. I love taking photos; they are my visual journal. Today, with those small, shiny devices in our pockets we call phones, we have never taken so many photographs or been so connected. At the same time, we are seeking more ways to switch off, digitally detox and to simply be. Mindfulness is everywhere. It’s the buzzword of mainstream culture as we aspire to discover ways to simplify, slow down and reconnect with ourselves and others. We can bring mindfulness into everything and anything, moment to moment, day to day, including in photography. The camera becomes our lens to see, to be present and to pay attention to life. The camera becomes our lens…

Imagine if all the answers you need right now are at your fingertips. And what if all you had to do to receive these answers and guidance was to slow down enough to notice them. Would you do it? Just underneath the surface of our mind’s constant chatter is a vast depth of information and guidance just waiting to be plumbed. Yet, such answers aren’t found “out there”, but “in here”. You find them in your heart, in your body’s sensations and in your gut. The noise and distraction “out there” keeps you separate from what’s “in here”. More and more, we hear the need to step away from our devices and the 24/7 “on” button. We are reminded to take our annual leave, to slow down, sleep more and…

Mornington Peninsula Peninsula Hot Springs is the heart of Australia’s contemporary bathing culture. Located an hour’s drive from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, there are no surprises why this world-class wellbeing destination was a winner in the 2019 World Luxury Spa Awards. Pitched as “affordable luxury” by co-founder Charles Davidson, its one-hour Fire & Ice Experience is the closest thing to experiencing Nordic bathing culture in Australia. W: peninsulahotsprings.com Great Ocean Road Deep Blue Hot Springs along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road offers infrared sauna experiences matched with colour therapy. Add a self-guided forest bathing session at The Redwoods in the Otway Ranges along with a visit to the Lorne Sea Baths to complete your wellness experience. W: thedeepblue.com.au As a traveller, storyteller and eco-warrior, Matt Sykes is constantly exploring ways…

Cooking and eating does not have to be a chore. It can be a ritual; a time to be still, grateful and reflect on this gift of life we share. The slow food movement is a shift away from fast food. It encourages us to cook at home, to prepare and eat wholefoods sourced as local as possible. It’s regaining our culture; connecting with the land and our food in a fast-paced world of convenience. Food as a gateway to presence It’s sad that we’ve come to a time where cooking and feeding ourselves and others has become a chore. Eating was once a way of connecting, a daily ritual that occurred multiple times. Sitting around a dinner table meant connection, it meant community. It was a time for us…

For my entire life, adventure has conjured up images of vast mountain ranges and the depths of the jungle — wild and unexplored places that require dangerous and arduous journeys to reach and activities that push you to the edge of your physicality and endurance. The word adventure has taken me all over the world. It’s had me skiing in the mountains of California, hitchhiking through rural New Zealand and breaking down in the Canadian wilderness. Recently, my definition of adventure has begun to shift. After being introduced to meditation and self-exploration three years ago, my sense of adventure has now broadened. Mountains and jungles still feature, and I still find myself in far-flung places having incredible and tough experiences, but alongside these more traditional ideas, I find adventure in…

According to an ancient Chinese legend, Okinawa, the main island of Ryukyu in Japan, is “the land of the immortals”. It’s believed that the fountain of youth has been mastered on this isle, where 100-year-old residents live healthful lives. This island has intrigued the world’s leading anthropologists and demographers, who have carefully studied the dietary and lifestyle habits of Okinawa’s inhabitants. But it’s not just Okinawa that has caused intrigue. National Geographic conducted a study to find the world’s longest-living populations and, in addition to Okinawa, they identified four other locations: Barbagia, Sardinia; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. Interestingly, while these locations — dubbed the Blue Zones — are both geographically and culturally diverse, researchers found several commonalities. So, what can we learn from their…

Q: How did your experiences with cystic acne and a love for exercise enable you to create Fitcover? A: As a fitness lover and busy mum, I’ve always struggled to find the right makeup to suit my active lifestyle. I knew exactly what I needed: makeup that would double as skincare, stay put through the toughest workouts and make me look (and feel) flawless all day, every day. Plus, it had to be cruelty-free, vegan, easy to apply and made from nourishing, natural ingredients. I wasn’t ready to settle for less. So, I created exactly that: skincare, disguised as makeup, designed for fitness lovers. Q: How important is it to feel comfortable in your own skin when it comes to any form of movement or exercise? A: Important is an…